Prosecutor: "This was a calculated execution of an entire shift"
Video of entire hearing posted below.
A would-be cop killer will spend the rest of his life behind bars. Madison County Circuit Judge John Emfinger sentenced Edgar Egbert to serve six consecutive 35-year terms in prison today after Egbert pleaded guilty to six counts of attempted first degree murder. Egbert wounded two deputies and shot at four others with a full-automatic rifle in 2019. Deputy Brad Sullivan is still partially paralyzed and blind in one eye .
Egbert met his ex-wife and Cipriani Theiron at Walgreens in
Jackson on September 5, 2019. Egbert kidnapped him and took him to his
isolated Madison County home. He chained the victim to the bed. The
ex-wife reported the kidnapping to the police.
Egbert saw deputies arrive at his home and fled in his Jeep Wrangler. A
high-speed chase took place but deputies managed to stop the vehicle by
throwing spike strips in its path. Egbert stopped on the side of the road, took cover behind his wrecked vehicle, and immediately began firing at the pursuing deputies. Stopped but not done, the former Marine firearms instructor pulled out a full-automatic rifle
and fired 100 rounds at the pursuing deputies. Two rounds struck
Deputy Brad Sullivan in the head while and another deputy in the
arm. Sullivan barely survived and spent months recovering in the
hospital.
A Madison County grand jury indicted Egbert for six counts of attempted first degree murder. The indictments state Egbert attempted to kill deputies Brad Sullivan, Scott Graves, George Elliott, Joel Evans, James Cannon, and James Hall. The indictment also charged him with kidnapping and felony evasion.
Judge Emfinger announced Egbert was competent to stand trial at the hearing this morning. Egbert immediately pleaded guilty to the six counts of attempted first degree murder. The judge accepted his plea and allowed Deputy Sullivan to address the Court.
Still-injured but buoyed by an inner strength, Sullivan said "I've waited for an eternity for this day to arrive." (10:30) He said he dropped off his little boy at school when he got the call there was a "potential hostage situation." He joined in the pursuit for several miles before it ended near the country club in Canton. He stopped behind Egbert's vehicle. Egbert got out and shot at Sullivan with a rifle as the deputy almost immediately drove in reverse. Egbert's first two shots struck the deputy in the head. "All I could feel was a hard blow to the head and what felt like electricity going through my body," recounted the deputy. Deputy Evans bravely stood next to the fallen deputy and covered him during the firefight. Egbert looked slightly down at the floor while Sullivan relived the events of that day in 2019 (14:50). The scene was one of compelling contrast: a profile in courage versus a profile in cowardice with Egbert wearing an appropriate yellow jumpsuit.
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| Egbert looks ahead during Sullivan's testimony |
Sullivan has no use of his left arm and little use of his left leg. He can not see out of his right eye. He said he feared leaving the hospital because he knew of the struggle that lie ahead. "People will never understand how hard the simplest tasks in life are when you can no longer use parts of your body", said Sullivan. He had to adapt to caregivers being in his home all the time. His teen daughter has to help him go to the restroom and get in and out of the shower. He gave thanks for his survival but lamented his kids knowing what he once was.
Sullivan choked up as he said "Mr. Egbert is only charged with and pled to attempted murder. But on September 5, 2019, he murdered Deputy Brad Sullivan. He took what I knew as a life and what my kids knew as a life away from me and it will never be the same."
Turning from his own tribulations, Sullivan addressed the man who shot him: "On that day, you took the coward way out to deal with life situations. You would rather take someone else's life and pray yours might be taken that day but you did not. You failed to take anyone else's life and when injured, you surrendered and gave up."
An emotional Sheriff Randy Tucker took the stand (24:00). He said Egbert showed his skill with weapons as he shot Sullivan's headrest with his first two rounds as the vehicle was moving. He described a chaotic scene as the former Marine sowed mayhem and destruction as he was once trained to do. Sheriff Tucker asked the court to impose the maximum sentence on every count. "Yeah, he failed. All he won was a life in jail, I hope. I bet this court to agree with me" concluded the Sheriff.
Egbert finally spoke up for himself (29:30). "I don't expect any forgiveness for what I've done but I apologize for the harm that I've caused," said the defendant. He said thought he was going to die once shot but unfortunately survived. He suffers nerve damage as well as constant pain in his right arm. He lost all possessions. He said it was "God's will for him to survive" and that he kept him alive for a reason. "I never intended to kill or harm anyone but myself" said Egbert.
Although the statements ended, the drama was not over as Assistant District Attorney Ashley Allen had enough of the would-be cop-killer's claim that he never intended to harm anyone but himself and set the record straight (34:44) . She said Egbert lied to the court and that "by all means, this was planned." Egbert kidnapped a man and chained him at home. He told his wife he would kill any cop that came into his home. He hid ammo, guns, and magazines around his house, garage, and vehicle in anticipation of a shootout with the police. She said he had a plan and executed it.
"You don't get to die by suicide by cop because you are too big of a coward to do it yourself" said the fiery prosecutor. She continued "This was a tactical preparation for an assault on law enforcement." He fired only at cops from behind his wrecked vehicle. He didn't shoot "tires or fenders" but shot into windshields and doors in an effort to kill police. She charged "This was a calculated execution of an entire shift of the Madison County Sheriff's Department. She said the only reason deputies were not murdered was "because of the grace of God." She said the District Attorney would have pursued the death penalty if any law enforcement officer had been killed that tragic day.
Judge Emfinger agreed with the prosecutor and said it was indeed by the grace of God that no one was killed. The kidnapping and felony evasion counts were dismissed. Judge Emfinger sentenced Egbert to six 35-year terms in prison to be served consecutively.
District Attorney John Bramlett said afterwards that he would seek the death penalty for anyone who kills a copy in Madison or Rankin counties.
Kingfish note: It is frankly a wonder that firefight was not a repeat of Miami 1982. Egbert was a highly-trained shooter. Although the cops had high-capacity Glocks, shotguns, and probably M-4's, Egbert probably came close to matching them in firepower with full-automatic weapons.
33 comments:
cue the statist bootlicking brigade
Kingfish, were your hands “literally shaking” as you frantically typed out your appeals to emotion?
Yellow journalism much?
4:09, Just because you know the name of a logical fallacy does not mean that you know what it is, or that you really even know how to think logically. I see no evidence that KF is attempting to use emotion to win an argument. As far as I can tell, he's just reporting a story.
"An appeal to emotion is an effort to win an argument without facts, logic, or reason, but instead by manipulating the emotions of the audience. An appeal to emotion is also classified as a logical fallacy.
https://www.mometrix.com/academy/appeal-to-emotion-as-a-logical-fallacy/
4:09 Jerk commenting much?
The judge gave him a break, he could have gotten life.
4:43 it is also a method used in propaganda or public relations. You may want to work on your research methods since you seem to have fallen into confirmation bias in your comment.
4:09 By "yellow journalism," you're referring to today's American "main stream" media (CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, NY Times, PBS, etc.), correct?
At least it is over, for the time being. Now come the endless appeals to over turn etc. Crime is a money making business for many.
I commend the Judge for sentencing on this crime. If more judges in Hinds County had courage to follow with maximum sentencing we all agree the crime rate would drop. We love our men & women in BLUE!
Should have be the death penalty hanging from a tree
The punishment was too light. Firing a weapon at a LEO - probably in any situation - should have a minimum life sentence. Having said that, the rhetoric really is cranked up to 11 here. There was no “murder” and this was not actually a “calculated execution of an entire shift.” The hyperbole cheapens the horror of the act.
I think (210) years with no chance for parole is exceptional sentencing. Please read (6) x35=210 years. Since He pled guilty he CANNOT appeal! READ the article first.
Everyone contact their state And federal Representative & Senator asking laws to be changed to Death Penalty for shooting law enforcement.
The POS plead guilty so there are no appeals. Each 35 year sentence is served consecutively so he has 205 years to serve. Unfortunately Deputy Sullivan will suffer the rest of his life as well.
@4:06 You called it. The bootlickers showed up right on cue!
Usually a plea is copped in order to get a lighter sentence. If that's true and knowing damned well he'd never see the streets again, why the plea?
Where did he acquire the machine gun? Surprised it isn’t mentioned.
He probably converted semi-auto rifles. A competent machinist or armorer can do it.
No machining is required. You can literally twist a metal coat hanger into an S shape and convert and AR15 to a machine gun. It will last about 1000 shots before it gets chewed apart. It is the reason the AR15 needs to be banned. It is a military weapon of war and far too easy to convert to full auto.
You literally can’t
It isnt that easy nor does it function so flawlessly or you'd see it utilized daily by gangbangers, dealers, and dough boys as Kennuf loves to say.
And to continue this comment trend, thanks for your logical fallacy.
Is this justice? Idk. Seems about right. I’m pro death penalty but it seems like there should be a different punishment for attempted murder and murder. If you give death penalty for attempted murder you’re basically saying trying and failing to kill someone is as bad as actually killing someone, and I just don’t think that’s right.
There are some keyboard warriors here. Only a jury can give you life. Life is only age 65. So if he receives 210 and he is approximately 35 years old. 35 +210=245. Even if he only serves half of the 210. He would be paroled at age 140. His name is Egbert not Methuselah.
Y’all complain about Hinds. Y’all complain about Madison. Maybe it’s time to step up and do better or leave.
Seems the clarion ledger tried to find out more about the weapons used and wasn’t able to get answers. MBI has the 2 fully auto rifles used. I’m guessing these were property of the military and that’s why they don’t want to disclose their findings.
Feb. 25 @5:03 p.m.: Please explain how KF is using an "appeal to emotion" in this article as attempt to persuade the readers of something. What, exactly, do you think he is attempting to persuade us to believe or to do?
4:43
What 8:31 PM described is called a “Swiftlink” and Jackson’s most violent thugs are using them. As well as Glock Switches and stick magazines. That is why JPD never engages in the type of gun battles that MCSO did. Underpaid and overworked JPD officers know better than to engage adversaries that not only outnumber them, but outgun them as well.
It would be very useful, to know what substances contributed to Egbert's mental dysfunction. Generally, if you dig long enough, you'll find that the individual on a crime-spree, owed at least part of his craziness to booze, pot, meth, antidepressants, or a combination of these. Maybe people would start AVOIDING certain substances, if news stories routinely included the substances which had possibly fueled the criminal acts being reported. This would help us decide, for ourselves, what's "harmless", and what's not.
to 2;26.....so you want to know what drugs 'fueled the criminal acts''? how bout the fact he just a stinking thug.
to 2;26.....so you want to know what drugs 'fueled the criminal acts''? how bout the fact he just a stinking thug.
"to 2;26.....so you want to know what drugs 'fueled the criminal acts''? how bout the fact he just a stinking thug."
February 27, 2021 at 8:25 AM
or.... maybe some substances TURN PEOPLE INTO stinking thugs. Maybe, if the long-term effects of those substances were more commonly known, more people would avoid those substances, and thus avoid TURNING INTO stinking thugs.
That might mean there would be fewer stinking thugs like Egbert, and fewer innocent victims of stinking thugs like Egbert.
I agree with 7:54 that crime reporting should include facts about alcohol and drug abuse which are related to the crime. As I recall, it was news reports of horrendous acts performed by people high on over-the-counter "bath salts" several years ago that informed the public about the dangers of that stuff.
But, it is common knowledge that meth destroys people's teeth, and that does not stop people from doing it. So, I don't expect reason to prevail in the face of a compulsive substance disorder.
12:25, the critical MOMENT OF CHOICE - the moment when a young person chooses to relent to peer pressure, and try a substance - happens fairly early in life. That moment, however, generally comes a few years after a young person has become proficient at reading (and has matured enough to understand the content of newscasts). If they could easily read, in articles, and see on the news, which substances were at play, in both the formation of the criminal, and the commission of the crime, then they'd be more apt to avoid the substances likely to turn them into criminals (and unwanted stinking pieces of "raw boo boo").
We hear and read plenty, about the PSYCHOLOGICAL factors leading to criminals and crimes (child abuse, bullying, PTSD...). But we hear far too little, about the PHYSIOLOGICAL factors shaping criminal minds and criminal acts.
While information about the negative effects of meth, may not stop those who are already addicted, and while such knowledge may not prevent ALL new users, such knowledge surely has stopped SOME young people from becoming users.
Beyond including facts about substances, "which are related to the crime", I want information included about any substances which may have contributed to FORMATION OF THE CRIMINAL. I believe that most people, given enough information, early-enough in life, will avoid the bad things which are avoidable. There's plenty of evidence that people tend to make wise choices, when they have easy access to the right information.
I agree with you, 2:39. We now have the technology (PET scans) to prove that neural pathways are altered and re-mapped by substances, gambling, porn, video games, social media, etc. Scientists are doing the research, and studies are being published that confirm what many already grasped intuitively and through population studies. With this information widely available, many may make better choices before they develop a problem.
12:25
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